Gear-shifting mechanism.



i plate forfautomobiles;

@To all whom t may concern: 1

Be it known that we, vlSTIcKoLAi ToRMonN and JosnPH vrToRMonrnfcitizen of theUnited fStates,-1residing at Taylor, in the county of a JacksomState of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Gear-Shifting Mechanism, c of which; the k.following is ak specification.

. Theubjectof this invention is an H and the, obj ectsv of 4the invention are, first, to provide means for ,t automatically locking the lever in neutral position, second, to'p'rovide an automatically set clutch lever opened lock, third, to prov-ide a simple and-elficient locking H plate.

`Vith 'the foregoingv and other objects in View which will appear as the Vv,description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter describedV andfclaimed, being understood that changes m the precise embodimentyoff-ithey; invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention. One practical embodiment of the invention is shown in the accompanying drawing,

wherein:

Fi ure 1 is a side elevation of the device held 1n unlocked position by the lever.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the device with the top plate removed. Y Fig. 3 is a cross section taken on the line 3?, of Fig. 2. t

Referring to the drawing by numerals: In carrying out the invention we prefer to make use of an ordinary H plate 1 which is formed with depending ears 2 which are apertured to permit the plate to be secured in place in the usual manner. plate 1 is secured by screws or otherwise, a plate 3 which is formed with an H registering with the H of the plate 1. Plate 3 is formed with a depending rib 4 at each end which serves to keep the plates spaced apart. A shaft 5 depends from one side of the plate 1 and turns in the plates 1 and 3. A crank 6 is secured to the shaft 5 and oscillates between the plates 1 and 3. The crank 6 is provided with a through pin 7 which pivotally connects companionl links S, only one of which is shown, to the crank. The other ends of the links 8 are pivotally connected to one side of an irregular H plate 9. Plate 9 is slidable between the plates 1 and-3 and is formed with an H adapted to register, when in one position, with the H 1 s'ptnanon of Lettersratent.

5 rod .1 5 and is Uponl the sition the spring enanfsnrrrlne Meenemen. n

gof the plates 1 and-3. Theplate is also .pirovvidedfpwith a cut away. portion 10 which t PatentedAug.4 6, A1918.V .App1ication1ed.June25, 1917. Seria1-No.176;859., f i

tionv` offa stud 12 whichextends between thefplates 1and3 andserves as a .guide for the plate 9.V v y; f y Y Acrank 13 is securedI to the lowernend of ,i the shaft 5 and ther-crank is provided with a pln 14. 4A

connecting rod 15 has; pivotal engagement with the pin 14.y f

-. V A Y arm 19f1has-1ts varms straddling and secured to the upper endof the clutch lever D23-,aas shown, and rises therefrom.` The upstanding leg oftheY arm is apertured `to receivethe rod 15 whichis slidablein the aperture.- Acoiled spring 17 surrounds the Y confnedbetween the arm 19 and a collar 18 which surrounds the rod 15 adjacent its pivotedvend.; The;free end of rod .115 is threaded to receive a nut 2O which may be clamped in any desired position on the threaded portion of the rod 15 by a jam nut 20.

A bracket 16 is attached to the clutch pedal shaft, bracket, or other suitable part,

^ and in the bracket the lower end ofthe shaft 5 is journaled.

In practice the device is operated in the following manner: The plateis attached to the car as usual and the Y arm 19 and bracket 16 attached as hereinbefore set forth. Considering principally Fig. 1, the gear shifting lever 21 is in one of thelegs of the H, say intermediate speed. The crank 6 is turned to the position shown in Fig. 2 with theH of plate 9 registering with the H of the other plates. With the parts in this po- 17 is compressed between the collar 18 and the Y arm 19.

W e now have the parts in their normal position during a straight run of the car.

Release of the clutch will draw the Y arm 19 forward into contact with nut 2O and hold the parts in the position just described so that lever 21 may be thrown through neutral to any desired position.

Should the operator, however, through inadvertence or otherwise, release the clutch lever, whereby the clutch automatically springs into operative engagement, and if the lever 21 should be in neutral position, the rod 5 will be rocked by means of the spring and crank, and through the connection of the rod 5 and plate 9 will slide said plate so that the projections 22 will close the legs of the H slot, thus preventing the lever from `beingshifted as longas the clutch remains 'n engagement. pon again relaas; ing the clutch the plate 9 is Inovedtotheposition shown in the drawinggvhen tlie lever BLmay bemoved to any desired point.

Having-v described our invention, vvliatl We claim as new and desiretoseeilrelby Letiters Patent, is:

l. The' combination WithlanfH plate and a lever'assooiated therewith, o'f alplat'esldable onthe Hplate, resilient means forsli'dingv the latter plate to-eovertlie legsof-the H when the' lever 'is in' neutrali position,1anld clutch lever operat'edmeans` for sliling-tl1e plate to uncover the legs of the H.

2. TheVA combinatiow with anHP'platefof a plate slidalo'le" thereon,-said latter' plate provided with an Hope'nin'gf registering inE one position With the opening of tl1e-lHfplate,-a shaft depending from'l the H' pleite, a crank onf the shaft and'conneote'd to tleslidin'g plate, resilient means` forfrookingfthe shaft toslide the plate to' 4close' the-ends o' the legs fof the H, and` olutoh leveroperated`v` means forslidingv the plate'- to uncover the; legs.-

3; The combination: with' an-`|l5p`late,-of

another plate overlying the first plate and spaced therefrom, a lookingplate sliding beunloolringposition. l p

4. The combination with an H' plate, of

anothervn plate overlying the H plate and spaced therefrom, a looking plate sliding between the plates, laf'shaft-j mlrnarledl in" the `first'mentionedfplates andf'depending therefrom, a'l erankonl the s'lfiaf-ftffeonneett'e'oF` to"r the locking" late,v a f crank! onthei loWer end? of latter orankglresilienti -meansflfor throwing the 'loe'kingffplatei tol lookedlpositiongm and'- an arm slida'lo'lef-oni the rod and adaated for attachmenttoa clutch levertoi threwfthplte to unlocked! position'.4

Ifn'- testimony that wealaimth@ foregoing as"- our' own,A we have hereto axedi euri-'sig natures yin2 the presence-1o'tivof'wiitnesses.

TQRMOEN: Y JOSEBHi TORM'OEN. Witnesses: 

